Published 8:00 pm, Monday, October 20, 2008

Downey is the league's School & Focus Assessment coordinator and headed the five-member team that visited the middle school for three days in the spring. Its 27-page report on the visit and its review of the school's self-study was issued recently.

Bethel schools superintendent Gary Chesley said the league had never before been asked to assess Bethel Middle School. An assessment is voluntary and done at a school district's request.

"We felt so good about the day-to-day operations," Chesley said about the middle school. "But we needed an outside source to see if they are on the right track and to give affirmation of the good things there."

A major plus at the school, according to the report, is the cooperation among staff.

"BMS exudes an atmosphere of teamwork," the report says in its summary. "There is a clear understanding by students that teachers care about them and their academic success."

As part of the three-day visit, the league's team met with middle school staff and many students and parents.

"I'm overwhelmingly happy," Bethel Middle School principal Kevin Smith said about the report. "It showed a high level of collegiality and the strong support that teachers provide each other and the kids."

Among other things praised were the school's strong music curriculum; professional development initiatives; good communication among staff, parents and the community; and the new "Hands UP" program, which tracks student progress.

Under "Hands UP," teachers in a cluster group review the progress of every student they work with. The teachers raise their hands when they have concerns or positive comments during their meetings, and the group decides what action, if any, should be taken.

The summary of the league report suggested Bethel Middle School implement an advisory program that pairs teachers and students to help ensure students do well in school.

Smith, the middle school principal, said the advisory program will get under way this month, and groups of eight or nine students from different grades will be paired with a teacher.

"I think it was wonderful," Bethel Middle School parent Jen Larsen said about the district's decision to be assessed by the league. Larsen, who is co-president of Bethel Middle School PTO, was on the steering committee that helped gather materials and plan for the league's visit.

While studying themselves, Larsen said, the school's staff and administrators visited other schools to get ideas about what would improve Bethel Middle School.

One idea, having students do an interdisciplinary project, has already been launched. The project will tie together all the subjects covered during the school year.

Larsen was impressed with the time and effort the league team members took when they visited. "It was very in-depth."

Contact Marietta Homayonpour

at mhomayonpour@newstimes.com or

at (203) 731-3336.

WHAT -- Assessment report on Bethel Middle School. BY WHOM -- New England League of Middle Schools in Topsfield, Mass.